Summary
The prosperous Westphalian city of Gütersloh lies between Bielefeld and Münster in one of the most densely populated regions in Germany. The prominent employers are household appliance brand Miele and the international Bertelsmann media corporation, both headquartered in Gütersloh.
At the Miele headquarters, visitors can learn about the company’s origins and its lesser-known past as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, while the city museum highlights Gütersloh’s textile heritage and features a notable collection of 20th-century medical instruments.
Also receiving national recognition is the botanical garden, which hosts an installation by Olafur Eliasson and is a member of the European Garden Heritage Network.
Let us explore the best attractions in Gütersloh:
1. Stadtmuseum Gütersloh
Housed in a brick-built former granary and a half-timbered structure from 1750, this museum delves into Gütersloh’s extensive history.
The exhibits primarily focus on industrial development in the 19th century, advancements in medical practices, and innovations in media technology, particularly those related to the Bertelsmann corporation. The medical collection, developed over several decades by a local physician, places the museum in a distinguished category.
Among the rarest exhibits is an iron lung, a respirator from the 1950s designed for the treatment of lung disease, accompanied by a cystoscope and an early X-ray machine.
Industrial heritage is represented by an authentic weaving loom, along with work benches, tools, and antique appliances from the Gütersloh-based brand Miele.
2. Miele-Museum
Located within Miele’s headquarters, this museum displays approximately 200 items from the 120-year history of the brand.
Among the expected appliances like dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and washing machines, the museum also features intriguing surprises.
A unique assortment includes bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles, notably the one remaining Miele K 1, an automobile manufactured in the early 1910s.
Interactive elements, such as a bicycle that generates power for a film display about Miele, add an engaging touch.
3. Botanischer Garten
Established in 1912, the Stadtpark was expanded northeastward to accommodate a botanical garden.
This garden may not qualify as a botanical garden in the strictest scientific sense, yet it serves as a picturesque oasis recognized by the European Garden Heritage Network.
At its center are geometric pools, hornbeam hedges precisely trimmed, and pergolas with quaint seating niches.
Since the 1990s, numerous enhancements have been made; a café has opened in the historic palm house, a pharmacy garden featuring over 100 medicinal plants has been cultivated, and artist Olafur Eliasson introduced a “fragrance tunnel.” The latest addition, a lavender garden, was unveiled in 2012 to mark the park’s centenary and is a must-see in the summer.
4. Kirch ringbebauung
Undoubtedly, the most picturesque scene in Gütersloh features a ring of charming half-timbered houses surrounding the churchyard of the Apostelkirche.
This location preserves the most complete ensemble of historic houses in the city, as much of the surrounding area was destroyed during the Second World War.
The most photogenic structure is the Veerhoffhaus, dating back to the 17th century, characterized by a large gabled and cantilevered hall, with timbers adorned with fan motifs.
Within this same area, time should also be allocated to the 18th-century Alte Vikarie, featuring a Late Baroque portal tower, and Villa Bartels, an impressive slate-clad house from the 18th century, formerly owned by a textile entrepreneur.
5. Stadtpark
While the four hectares of the Botanischer Garten attract many visitors to Gütersloh’s city park, there are additional reasons to explore the area.
The park is one of 12 in Germany recognized with the Green Flag Award and, in 2006, ranked third on the list of “Germany’s Most Beautiful Parks.” The Stadtpark features amenities such as the Parkbad, an art deco-style open-air swimming pool established in 1928, and a miniature golf course. Adjacent to an oval path, an orchard of 65 fruit trees showcases apple, cherry, pear, and plum varieties.
6. Dampf-Kleinbahn Mühlenstroth
Northeast of the city lies a narrow-gauge steam train operation covering a one-kilometer circuit, functioning on weekends from May to October.
The railway encircles a substantial meadow, featuring a shed filled with vintage steam and diesel engines from the years 1919 to 1953. The earliest locomotives were repurposed field trains used for transport during the World Wars.
Children will undoubtedly enjoy the experience, and the site also offers a restaurant with outdoor seating and a playground.
7. Martin-Luther-Kirche
Located on Berliner Platz in the heart of Gütersloh is the city’s Protestant parish church.
This Neo-Gothic hall church was consecrated in 1861 and can accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers simultaneously.
While the architecture of the building is striking, the focal point is the baptismal font.
Constructed of zinc, it replicates a marble font originally carved by the renowned artist Bertel Thorvaldsen for the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen. This artifact was gifted to the church by the future Kaiser Frederick III as gratitude for surviving a train accident in 1851. Dating from 1900, three stained glass windows in the choir were created by the esteemed glass painter Alexander Linnemann from Frankfurt.
8. Theater Gütersloh
The city gained a modern architectural landmark in 2010 with the completion of a futuristic theater designed by Jörg Friedrich.
The theatre was developed during austere economic times, and the €21.75 million cost was partially financed by Miele and Bertelsmann.
The auditorium features a “vertical theater” design, with seating arranged almost perilously to compensate for the building’s narrowness, accommodating 530 individuals. At the top, a “Sky Lobby” provides a unique vantage point for performances.
Patrons are encouraged to check the schedule for high-caliber entertainment, which may include concerts, ballets performed by the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, classical ensembles, solo performances, or theatrical productions.
9. Schloss Rheda
Located less than 10 kilometers southwest of Gütersloh is a moat-surrounded castle established in the 12th century by Widukind von Rheda, who perished in Acre during the Third Crusade.
This structure was passed down to a branch of the noble Lippe family before being acquired through marriage in the 16th century by the Counts of Bentheim, who continue to own the property today.
Schloss Rheda features a Hohenstaufen gate tower dating to the 1400s, a chapel from the 13th century, a palace in the Weser Renaissance style, as well as several outbuildings from the 1700s, including an oil mill, stables, and a grain mill. While the castle is privately owned, it hosts a coaching museum and a costume collection, offering 90-minute guided tours in summer.
Within the castle park stands a beautiful Baroque orangery available for rental for events.
10. Benediktinerinnenkloster Herzebrock
Only about ten minutes away by car lies a former Benedictine monastery whose origins date back to the 9th century.
After a catastrophic fire devastated the Romanesque structure in the 14th century, only the tower, dating to approximately 1200, remained intact. The remainder was reconstructed in the Late Gothic style during the 15th century, resulting in beautifully painted vaults in the nave and choir, along with figures intricately sculpted into the keystones.
Outside, the monastery’s formal garden has been redesigned and invites leisurely walks.
11. Die Weberei
If you are in search of evening activities in Gütersloh, this vibrant cultural center located in a former weaving mill along the Falke river is an excellent choice.
Die Weberei features a pub with a beer garden, a cinema with two screening rooms, a nightclub, exhibition areas, and a hall dedicated to live music events.
Constructed in 1874 as the first mechanical cotton weaving mill in the city, the building faced demolition in the 1970s, but a community protest in 1984 led to its transformation into a community center.
Patrons are encouraged to check the events schedule, as it may include concerts, comedy shows, readings, parties, culinary events, or theatrical performances.
12. Wasserturm
Adjacent to the Theater Gütersloh, a 42-meter high water tower was constructed in 1888 to provide drinking water to a growing population.
For over 50 years, the structure performed its function until modern pumps rendered it unnecessary.
The monument fell into disrepair during the latter half of the 20th century until its registration as an industrial monument in 1984. The building underwent complete restoration in the 1990s, whereupon a youth center was established within.
Blue LEDs were strategically installed on the upper levels to illuminate the structure at night.
13. Mohns Park
This four-hectare park is named after local publisher Johannes Mohn, who designated the land in 1904 to protect indigenous heath and forest landscapes.
Initially opened to the public, the park was briefly closed due to local behavior. Mohns Park acquired its contemporary design post-war when 50,000 cubic meters of rubble from the severally damaged city were utilized to establish the terraces for the park’s 1,100-seater amphitheater.
In addition to a mini-golf course and winter skating rink, Mohn’s original forest and meadow areas provide tranquil walking paths.
14. Jakobsberg
For those desiring a serious nature walk, a 50-hectare reserve in the hilly countryside of Steinhagen is located north of the city.
Throughout spring and summer, Jakobsberg is a favored destination for local hikers due to its wildflower displays.
Mid-March brings a stunning display of hepaticas, while several violet species bloom simultaneously on the forest’s edge. Later in the season, white and yellow wood anemones flourish, followed by lungwort and sweet woodruff in summer.
A recommended hike includes the route from the Friedrichshöhe restaurant to the panoramic lookout at Emilshöhe, which offers a splendid view of the verdant eastern Münsterland region.
15. Regional Cuisine
For those interested in local cuisine, a few delicacies warrant exploration.
Foremost among them is Westphalian ham, which is acorn-fed, dry-cured, and typically smoked using juniper and beechwood branches.
Next is the locally produced dark, dense wholegrain pumpernickel bread.
To elevate your experience, consider ordering a Zwiebelmettbrötchen, a roll filled with raw minced pork, garnished with raw onion and sometimes caraway seeds.
Alternatively, the Pickert, a sweet dumpling made with shredded potatoes, flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and currants resembles a pancake.
To complement your meal, choosing a pilsner lager is recommended, which can be served with a shot of Korn (grain brandy) or Steinhagen’s Wacholder schnapps (gin).
